Yearly Archives:

TimeCache 5.0.6 is a service update PandaWare\'s time and expense billing application for Mac OS 9/X. Version 5.0.6 adds the ability to disable the rounding of time entries; enhances reporting capabilities and; fixes a number of bugs, primarily in its reporting functions. An unlimited single-user registration is $50. [Classic, OS X]

Fantom Drives today announced the addition of the new G-Force FireWire RAID array to its G-Force product family. The 480GB, $3300 device provides an integrated hardware RAID system that is \"ideal for any FireWire-enabled computer.\" The high-performance RAID controller of the G-Force RAID handles Level 0, 1, or 5 RAID configurations, with Level 5 performance and reliability rivaling that of more expensive units.

Chaotic Software has released an update to its popular MP3 tag editor software. MP3 Rage 5.2.1 offers more accurate pattern identification, thanks to updated default regular expression formulas. The $25 package allows users to edit ID3 tags, analyze MP3s, adjust an MP3\'s sound volume automatically to play at similar levels, export MP3 files to be written to CD, batch-modify several ID3 tags at once, to name some features.

Adobe today reported that its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2002 were on track with adjusted targets. The software giant reported revenues of $285 million for the quarter ending August 30, compared with $292 million for the year ago quarter.

IRISPen II allows Mac OS 9 & X users to scan printed text, figures, bar codes and handwritten numbers into any application. The Executive version also features a Text-to-=Speech Module that allows audio checking of the imported text. The USB scanner is $130 and the Executive version is $200.

Epson has announced the PowerLite 30c, its latest portable multimedia projector that features the company\'s LCD technology and high-quality video capabilities. The projector offers 800 ANSI lumens, an 800x600 SVGA-native resolution, 400:1 contrast ratio and a lightweight, portable design. The PowerLite 30c is compatible with RGB, composite, s-video, and component video; the price is $1300.

Jotz 1.0.2 is an easy-to-use multimedia note pad for Mac OS X. Features include automatic Find/Import of Classic Note Pads, one-button automatic polylingual significance, user-configurable auto-hide and much more. Changes in the update include a preference for making the pad window draggable by background and a brushed-metal style interface. The price is $18 for a lifetime serial.

Compositor 2.0 is a $35 Mac OS 9 (a Carbon version is expected soon) image editor and image to art creator and visualizer. It now has full painting and editing tools to go along with more than 160 Filters and Channel effects. A new Actions Palette, anti-aliasing Zoom Window and more have been added to the update.

Installgen v1.1.6 is a Mac OS X implementation of over 100 Oracle tasks required when performing installations of Oracle database servers. This latest update adds support for building Oracle 9.2.0 primary and standby databases on Windows servers. The changes provide the foundation for a future revision which will add support for building Oracle 9.2.0 databases on MacOS X 10.2.

NYRO Technix has begun accepting pre-release orders for NXRAID for Mac OS X, which is expected to ship this month. NXRAID is the first software-based RAID 5 solution for Mac OS X. It offers partition-based RAID usable on IDE, FireWire, SCSI and Fiber Channel systems. The pre-release price is $99 and after release, will be $189.

Dungeon Siege, Microsoft\'s popular fast-action, fantasy role-playing game, will be released for the Mac in early 2003. One of the 10 best-selling games for Windows this year, it has received Editors Choice awards from PC Gamer, Computer Games Magazine, Gamespot and more. Westlake Interactive is developing the Macintosh version.

VanGuard 3.0, now compatible with OS X, is a secure online testing environment designed for educational institutions. It provides a complete \"lock down\" environment, only enabling access to a particular testing application delivered within VanGuard. Users cannot exit the VanGuard environment to surf the Web, or use other applications or \"hot keys.\" Version 3.0 also provides XML support as well as support for Math ML to offer greater functionality for mathematics applications as well as greater printing support and the ability for client-specific and product-specific branding.

ilesa Software\'s Download Deputy 5 is the latest incarnation of its Internet download accelerator and manager. Version 5 brings MirrorMagic technology, which \"locates all of the Internet mirrors that offer a specific file for download. If you get disconnected from a server, or you download speed drops below a certain threshold, MirrorMagic will connect to the next fastest server and resume your download, ensuring that you always get your files in as little time as possible.\" It also adds the ability to download different file types to different folders, has contextual menu support, and supports the Mac OS Keychain for storing/retrieving login info for downloads from password-protected web and ftp sites. A trial of the $24 utility is available online. Upgrades are $12. [Classic, OSX]

BASh 1.8 is a free 4th Dimension component which provides extensive utility functionality for 4D programmers, including a dynamic stack space module for reusing variable space, encoding and cryptography routines, and other functions. Version 1.8 adds 66 new methods and 3 new modules of code for a total of 411 methods across 30 modules of code, including an XML module, which introduces a simple document object module for storage of structured XML data.

Alias/Wavefront today announced that it is shipping Maya 4.5 3D software for Windows, IRIX and Linux and that Maya Complete 4.5 for Mac OS X will ship on September 23rd. Version 4.5 adds \"major technological developments\" such as Maya Fluid Effects (MFE) and modeling improvements, the largest collection of API enhancements since version 1 and version parity with Mac OS X (both feature-parity and file-format compatibility). Maya Fluid Effects allows users to create atmospheric effects, thick, viscous liquids (e.g., mud, lava), pyrotechnics, and space effects. A new Ocean Shader allows users to create realistic oceans and the ability to create buoyant objects that react to the simulated water movement. Pricing starts at $2,000 for the basic version and $6,000 for Maya Unlimited.

Media 100 has begun shipping Media 100 i Version 8.0.1, which adds support for Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar. It also announced that the digital video system for professional content creators, broadcast designers and digital media artists has been certified on the dual 1 GHz and dual 867 MHz Power Mac G4s. It is available for free to registered users. Pricing for new configurations starts at $2,000. (Earlier this week, we noted Media 100\'s initiative to bring OMF support to its software.)

Gefen\'s updated USB Switcher brings better efficiency and a lower cost to its device that allows two cross-platform computers to share one monitor, keyboard and mouse. The USB Switcher, which includes the Switcher unit, two DVI-A/VGA cables, two USB cables and 12-volt power supply, is now available for $300.

WiebeTech today announced FireWire RAID, which features two high-speed 7200RPM drives in a single aluminum enclosure and offers transfer speeds of up to 60MB/sec. Each drive has a separate FireWire bridge board, allowing completely independent operation as well as striping and mirroring without drivers under OS X. The system includes a PCI FireWire host card, allowing FireWire RAID to connect each independent FireWire bridge through an independent FireWire channel. Pricing is $500 (120GB), $600 (160GB), or $700 (240GB). The drives are expected to ship October 18th. An optional $40 6-port FireWire hub is also available which allows daisy chaining of FireWire RAID.
WiebeTech also announced Super DesktopGB, which features a bus-powered desktop drive in a 3.5-inch enclosure with dual daisy-chainable FireWire ports and a USB 2.0 port. The drive is bundled with MediaFour\'s MacDrive 5 software, which allows it to mount on Windows computers when the drive is formatted as a Mac volume. (The press release notes that \"not all types of computers provide enough FireWire bus power for Super DesktopGB\" and it includes an AC adapter as well as FireWire and USB cables, and a vertical stand.) The drives are expected to ship at the end of the month for $150 (case-only), $220 (40GB/5400 rpm), $250 (80GB/7200 rpm), and $300 (120GB/7200 rpm).

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Cirrus creates Lightning-headphone dev kit

Apple supplier Cirrus Logic has introduced a MFi-compliant new development kit for companies interested in using Cirrus' chips to create Lightning-based headphones, which -- regardless of whether rumors about Apple dropping the analog headphone jack in its iPhone this fall -- can offer advantages to music-loving iOS device users. The kit mentions some of the advantages of an all-digital headset or headphone connector, including higher-bitrate support, a more customizable experience, and support for power and data transfer into headphone hardware. Several companies already make Lightning headphones, and Apple has supported the concept since June 2014. http://bit.ly/29giiZj

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Apple Store app offers Procreate Pocket

The Apple Store app for iPhone, which periodically rewards users with free app gifts, is now offering the iPhone "Pocket" version of drawing app Procreate for those who have the free Apple Store app until July 28. Users who have redeemed the offer by navigating to the "Stores" tab of the app and swiping past the "iPhone Upgrade Program" banner to the "Procreate" banner have noted that only the limited Pocket (iPhone) version of the app is available free, even if the Apple Store app is installed and the offer redeemed on an iPad. The Pocket version currently sells for $3 on the iOS App Store. [32.4MB]

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Porsche adds CarPlay to 2017 Panamera

Porsche has added a fifth model of vehicle to its CarPlay-supported lineup, announcing that the 2017 Panamera -- which will arrive in the US in January -- will include Apple's infotainment technology, and be seen on a giant 12.3-inch touchscreen as part of an all-new Porsche Communication Management system. The luxury sedan starts at $99,900 for the 4S model, and scales up to the Panamera Turbo, which sells for $146,900. Other vehicles that currently support CarPlay include the 2016 911 and the 2017 models of Macan, 718 Boxster, and 718 Cayman. The company did not mention support for Google's corresponding Android Auto in its announcement. http://bit.ly/295ZQ94

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Apple employees testing wheelchair features

New features included in the forthcoming watchOS 3 are being tested by Apple retail store employees, including a new activity-tracking feature that has been designed with wheelchair users in mind. The move is slightly unusual in that, while retail employees have previously been used to test pre-release versions of OS X and iOS, this marks the first time they've been included in the otherwise developer-only watchOS betas. The company is said to have gone to great lengths to modify the activity tracker for wheelchair users, including changing the "time to stand" notification to "time to roll" and including two wheelchair-centric workout apps. http://bit.ly/2955JDa

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SanDisk reveals two 256GB microSDXC cards

SanDisk has introduced two 256GB microSDXC cards. Arriving in August for $150, the Ultra microSDXC UHS-I Premium Edition card offers transfer speeds of up to 95MB/s for reading data. The Extreme microSDXC UHS-I card can read at a fast 100MB/s and write at up to 90MB/s, and will be shipping sometime in the fourth quarter for $200. http://bit.ly/294Q1If

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Apple's third-quarter results due July 26

Apple has advised it will be issuing its third-quarter results on July 26, with a conference call to answer investor and analyst queries about the earnings set to take place later that day. The stream of the call will go live at 2pm PT (5pm ET) via Apple's investor site, with the results themselves expected to be released roughly 30 minutes before the call commences. Apple's guidance for the quarter put revenue at between $41 billion and $43 billion. http://apple.co/1oi1Pbm

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Twitter stickers slowly roll out to users

Twitter has introduced "stickers," allowing users to add extra graphical elements to their photos before uploading them to the micro-blogging service. A library of hundreds of accessories, props, and emoji will be available to use as stickers, which can be resized, rotated, and placed anywhere on the photograph. Images with stickers will also become searchable with viewers able to select a sticker to see how others use the same graphic in their own posts. Twitter advises stickers will be rolling out to users over the next few weeks, and will work on both the mobile apps and through the browser. http://bit.ly/29bbwUE